TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4136, 23 June 1874, Page 3

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[Press Telegraph Agency.] Auckland, Monday. All doubt regarding the fate of the cutter Agnes, with three men on board, has been settled by the discovery of portions of her wreck. The contract for the completion of the Kaipara railway to Eiverhead was signed to-day The amount is £15,000, and the work has to be completed in six months. Falloon is the contractor. The Star publishes three columns of statements regarding the escape of the Communists from New Caledonia, tending to show that they were expected on board the barque P.C.E., and that the captain and mates went on shore the night before the vessel sailed, the Communists going on board in their absence. The statements indicate complicity on the part of the French authorities. The Hon. Mr. O'Eorke was a passenger by the Phcebe, which sailed for the South to-day_ Alexaxdea, Monday. The Kingites have written to the Govern ment refusing to allow vessels to enter Mokau, a 3 agreed to by Wetere. Produce is being brought here daily by the Kingites for sale. Natter, Monday. A two-storey building at the comer of Browning and Hastings Streets, belonging to Mr. Peters, and used as a coach house, was burned down last night. The damage is estimated at £IOO, but the insurance was for only £IOO. The cause of the fire is unknown, but supposed to bo accidental. Geeytown, Monday. A boy aged five years, named Dew, was accidentally drowned in a well at Cartertom this morning. Lyttelton, Monday. Two cases of scarlet fever occurred among the Northampton's passengers on Saturday, the patients being a nurse and a boy. Little is made known as to the condition of the immigrants, and comments appear in tho local papers as to the unsuitableness of the quarantine hospital, the locality being much too confined, and with no room for exercise. Poet Chalmers, Monday. A man named Antonies was severely bruised to-day between the buffers of railway trucks on tho pier, and was taken to the Dunedin hospital. Greymouth, Monday. The steamer Waipara, bound for Hokitika, while waiting to cross the bar early in the tide to-day, took the ground on the South Spit, where she remained till this evening. After high water she floated off, but drifted amongst the breakers southward, and eventually was driven ashore on tho South Beach, about half a mile from the river mouth. The position of the vessel is a dangerous one, as there is a heavy sea rolling along the shore. Dunedin, Monday. A slight shock of earthquake was felt at seventeen minutes to six on Saturday morning. Inveecaroill, Monday. Mary Hall, who was murderously assaulted on the 15th inst., having recovered full possession of her faculties, another deposition was taken to-day. She identified Brennau. She saw him take the adze from behind the kitchen door. Tho day before the assault Bronnan said there would be a death in McCarthy's house before he left. On one occasion he had attempted to take liberties with her.